Czech Republic to Move Embassy From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

TEL AVIV – The Czech Republic on Wednesday endorsed relocating the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the U.S.’s move in May of this year.

The Czech president, prime minister, parliament speaker and the foreign and defense ministers released a jointstatementdeclaring that the inauguration of a “Czech House” in Jerusalem in November would be “the first step in the plan to move the Czech embassy to Jerusalem.”

The Czech House would include government institutions such as the foreign ministry’s Czech Center, the trade agency CzechTrade and tourism agency CzechTourism, AFP reported, citing the spokesman for President Milos Zeman.

“The Czech House in Jerusalem will be ceremonially opened by Mr. President during his visit to Israel in November,” Jiri Ovcacek said.

Zeman, a 73-year-old veteran left-winger who is known for his pro-Israel views, expressed support for the move before the U.S. transferred its own embassy there.